Artificial intelligence is a fourth industrial revolution technology that's helping to lessen
the burden on doctors.
The data-driven technology helps securing the most up-to-date medical data,... and increases
accuracy and efficiency in diagnosing and curing patients.
Our news feature tonight with Oh Jung-hee.
The AI-healthcare sector is one of the fastest growing branches of the fourth industrial
revolution.
It's expected to expand by more than ten times through 2020, as IT companies jump on the
bandwagon to connect technology and healthcare.
One of the innovations that's attracting attention is the Watson for Oncology system, developed
by IBM and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York.
This cognitive computing system helps doctors diagnose and treat cancer patients.
It uses machine learning algorithms... to analyze patients' medical records... and identify
treatment options for doctors and patients.
Korea's Gachon University Gil Medical Center in Incheon decided to join medical centers
in the U.S., Thailand and India in implementing the technology, and it will start using it
in December.
"Medical knowledge nearly doubles every year.
And it's difficult for clinicians to keep up with a large volume of research that's
constantly being updated and recommend the best practices for patients.
The roles have to be divided, and artificial intelligence can do that better than humans."
Vuno-med, recently developed by a Korean start-up, created to help doctors diagnose Diffuse Interstitial
Lung Disease by using deep learning algorithms.
It identifies different types of lung tissue damage using colors instead of the grayscale
used in CT scans.
The shades of gray in the scans didn't always provide doctors with clear visualization of
lung tissue damage,... sometimes leading them to make an incorrect diagnosis.
Vuno-med was created to correct the problem, and it taught itself how to do it... by analyzing
diagnostic information and patient data from Asan Medical Center.
"In this case, doctors thought that there was mostly this type of damage, seen here
in red.
But our program discovered other types of tissue damage as well, based on what it learned
through doctors' diagnoses."
The company's business developer says that when various algorithms are integrated, the
program could help provide an accurate diagnosis of almost any disease.
"If Vuno-med is upgraded to simultaneously analyze various sorts of data by collecting
a number of algorithms,... we will be able to diagnose any disease a patient has,...
going much further than just confirming whether it's a certain disease."
Considering the technology's potential, many are predicting that it will only be a matter
of time before AI systems start substituting a doctor's role in terms of diagnosis and
treatment.
Experts say, however, that it's unlikely AI will ever replace doctors completely.
"Individual devices, pieces of data and algorithms... will all be organized into one system that's
optimized for patients.
This will, in turn, assist humans and increase their capabilities, not replace them.
Then, the human doctor -- who has a full understanding of each technology -- can act like an orchestra
conductor.
He or she makes the final decision."
As the technology becomes more widespread, there will be more opportunities for patients
to receive equally good medical care, regardless of where they are.
"People won't necessarily have to visit well-known hospitals far away in the capital of Seoul.
They will be offered a similar level of treatment at their local hospitals.
In general, this will lower the barriers to high-quality treatment for people in desperate
situations."
The key will be for doctors to have a full grasp of the technology so they can make the
most of the tools at their disposal... and lead the way into a future where everyone
enjoys an equally accurate, safe and high-quality standard of care.
Oh Jung-hee, Arirang News.